William Hurt Wants to be a Merry Man

by nathanblochApril 13, 2009 at 2:33PM
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A rolling stone may gather no moss, but Ridley Scott's production of Robin Hood is certainly gathering a large and impressive cast. The newest thespian to join this English history epic is William Hurt, who is set to play the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal, who became one of the most powerful men in Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

William Marshal -- known simply as The Marshal -- served four Plantagenet kings: Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John, and Henry III. He became the "greatest knight that ever lived" in the history of England, and supposedly participated in 500 jousting tournaments (the hardcore kind where people died) and never lost.

Hurt joins company with a large roster of big name talent. Russell Crowe will play Robin Hood, Cate Blanchett will play Lady Marion, and Vanessa Redgrave does a turn as Queen Eleanor.

Who will play the Sheriff of Nottingham is still unknown, though the idea of having Crowe play Robin Hood and Nottingham has been thankfully nixed.